740.35112A/5–1145
The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship to the American Embassy in Argentina 3
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship has the honor to address the Embassy of the United States of America with reference to the situation of persons or entities included in the “black list”.
In view of decrees No. 6.945 of March 27th last, whereby the state of war is declared against Germany and Japan, and No. 7.032 of the 31st of the same month, establishing the treatment to be applied to firms trading or maintaining relations with the enemy, the present regime of commercial firms interdicted by the Government of the United States of America should be reviewed and adjusted to the present situation.
The United States as well as Great Britain have included certain persons or entities in the said “black lists” because they “traded with the enemy” or for reasons of precaution. The Argentine Government obviously has no intention of permitting the existence of firms or persons engaging within its territory in operations which may directly or indirectly benefit Germany and Japan or their respective nationals, or which may be effected with them.
In the case of firms or persons trading or maintaining relations with the enemy, decree No. 7.032 is applicable whereby there is authorized the liquidation or the transformation of such firms into entities whose activities will not create difficulties for the Republic or for the members of the United Nations. Once such firms or persons have been removed, there would remain those who were placed in the “black lists” by the United States and Great Britain as a measure of precaution [Page 454] and whose situation should be reconsidered. Since “black lists” do not exist in the United States of America it seems logical that they should not exist in Argentina once the firms to which the provisions of Decree No. 7.032 are applied have disappeared.
In view of the foregoing, the conclusion is; reached that the black list system is unnecessary since measures can be adopted by mutual agreement with the Governments of the United States of America and Great Britain which would permit the annulment of this system in the national territory, thereby fulfilling the purpose of the Argentine Government to coordinate its action with the policy of economic warfare of the United Nations. This is all the more necessary because in order that former German and Japanese firms which will hereafter function under the control of the Administrative Council may operate efficiently it is indispensable that they no longer figure in the said black list.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship should appreciate it very much if the Embassy would indicate its point of view on this matter, and it expresses the deep interest of the Argentine Government in studying that point of view with the representatives of the United States of America as soon as possible in this Foreign Office in order to settle the matter satisfactorily.4
- Copy transmitted to the Department in despatch 17,872, May 11, from Buenos Aires; received May 21.↩
- In despatch 17,872, May 11, 1945, the First Secretary of Embassy, reporting on behalf of the Chargé, indicated that officers of the Embassy had informed Argentine officials that withdrawal of the Proclaimed List depended upon the elimination of all Axis interests (740.35112A/5–1145).↩